Machine for cutting tubes and the like



y 1951 J. L. F. VERNEY 2,555,069

MACHINE FOR CUTTING TUBES AND THE LIKE Filed July 16, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.2

May 2 1 J. L. F. VERNEY MACHINE FOR CUTTING TUBES AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 16, 1946 Patented May 29, 1951 F F! CE MAQHINE FOR JGUTTING TUBES AND THE LIKE J can Louis Francois "V erney, Le Mans, France Application July 16, 1946, Serial No. 684,039 In France December 20, 1945 1 It is known that for the rapid cutting of tubes of round, square, rectangular or other section by machine, ribbon saws are generallyused, Or circular saws, or milling saw cutters, that is to say, machines in which the tool possesses either a rotary movement or an alternating translatory movement, or both movements in combination.

The cuts thus obtained are not clean, and a debur-ring operation is usually indispensable. More over, despite all precautions taken, there is a risk of accidents, due to the factthat the workman is required to handle either the cutting tool or the-tubes. v v

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved machine for cutting tubes of round, rectangular or other cross section, and also similar pieces which makes it possible to obviate these disadvantages. This machine is unusual principally owing to the fact that it is of the guillotine type, the tool being guided in a slide and under'the action of hydraulic, pneumatic or other actuating means, shearing the tube, which is held in a steady, and to the form of which the steady is adapted, the said holding arrangement also comprising a slot through which the tool passes. I

According to another feature, the-cutting edge of the tool is formed by one or more parts at an angle of the direction of the displacement, in such a way that the tool forms a point intended to penetrate in the vmanner of a punch into" the tube to be cut, the tool then operating in the manner of shears.

-- When the tube to be cut is'of square or rectangular section, the cutting edge-of the tool is preferably unsymmetrical, so that the punching part contacts the wall of the tube near one of its walls parallel to thedirection of the displacement of the tool, so as to prevent a deformation of the wall perforated by the point of the (3001;

When .the tube is of circular section, the cutting edge of the tool is preferably symmetrical withrelation to its longitudinal axis.

:According to another feature, the cutting edge of the tool comprises parts with different angularities either connected directly to each other or separated by non-cutting parts parallel to the direction of displacement :ofz-thetool.

The tool is constituted either by one blade or by several blades or similar members suitably arranged with relation .to each other. The trans 1 Claim. (Cl. 164-47) tubes to be cut as required, along straight or oblique sections.

I Other features and advantages will be gathered from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, given solely by way of example:

Figure 1 is an elevation View of a machine according to the invention;

7 Figure 2 is a part horizontal section on the line 2? of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevation view of the blade and its guide arrangement, the two parts constituting which are assumed .to be separate according to the line 3-3 of Figure 5.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of same on the lineal-4 of Figure 3. a I Figure 5 is across section on the line 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a view similar to that in Figure 3, in the case of a tool for a tube of circular section.

Figure '7 is a similar view in the case of a tool of curved cross section; and

Figure 8 is a horizontal section on the line 88 of Figure 7.

According to the constructional form shown in Figures -1 to 5,-the machine comprises, in Figures 1 and 2, abed plate I, forming the structure upon which is mounted in rotatable manner a support 2,, formed by a disc mounted so that it can rotate in the bed plate I. Ihe edge 4 of the disc 2 is graduated, which makes it possible toimpart to the latter any required angular position with relation to a locking screw 5, which is carried in 1 the bed plate, and which enables the disc to be locked in any desired position. A vertical plate 6, comprisinga fiat slot 1 (Figures 3 to 6) is fixed on this disc 2', or forms part of it. On this plate 6 a backing plate 9 is fixed by means of bolts 8 'or other means in such away that the groove 1 forms with it a fiat slideof rectangular section.

The two plates 6 and 9 are reinforced externallyby ribs I I and H (Figuresl and 2).

Towards their base the two plates 6 and 9 comprise, facing each other, an opening I2 whose form and size correspond, plus a slight clearance, with the form and external dimensions of the section to beobtained of the tube 13 to be cut. Thus for instance, in the case of a tube of rectangular section \abcd (Figure 3), the hole l2 forming-the steady has the same form.

In the case of the tube of rectangular section, the side and top faces (Figures 3, 4 and '5) of the openings forming the steady are preferably opened out fromthe slide I to the external faces of the plates 6. and 9. The dimensions of the steady [2 corresponding to those of the tube section to be obtained are thus those of the opening of this steady into the slide 1. In the slide 1 is mounted in sliding fashion with a slight cleara short part op which is very steep, ending up at the vertex or point p; from this point p the cutting edge is directed upwards, first with a very oblique part pq, and then a part qr slightly less oblique. This part is followed by a longitudinal cut-in part rs, and the cutting edge terminates in an oblique part st. The cutting edge thus forms a non-symmetrical point with relation to the medial longitudinal axis 44 of the blade I4. The longitudinal distance between the point p and the start 1" of the cut-in part rs is greater than the length be of the little side of the tube I3 to be cut.

The oblique part qr of the cutting edge I5 possesses a slight clearance turned towards the right in Figure 1.

The blade is fixed at its upper end above the plates 6 and 9 to the movable arrangement I6 of a hydraulic or pneumatic device, making it possible to impart to this blade 2. vertical alternating movement. The arrangement is for example of the single-acting type. The moving arrangement comprises for example a piston I'I impelled downwards by means of a fluid under pressure admitted to the upper part of the cylinder I8, the upward movement of the piston being ensured by means of a resilient return means I9. The distribution of the fluid under pressure is ensured for example by a hand lever 20 and an automatic distributor 2I, such that a lever 22 makes it possible to exhaust the cylinder I8 when this lever is met in downward travel by a stop 23 carried by the moving arrangement I6. This moving arrangement is of such construction that it can turn with respect to the cylinder I8 in which it is displaced, so that the blade I4 can follow the slide 1, when, by the rotation of the disc 2 on thebed plate -I, this slide, and consequently also the blade I4 are turned about the vertical axis passing through the centre of the disc 2 and the longitudinal axis of the actuating arrangement.

I This arrangement is fixed to a standard 24 connected to the bed plate I of the machine by means of two posts 25, a space being left between them at 26 above the bed plate.

This space 26 is intended to allow the tube I3- to be cut to be placed on the bed plate I, which is extended by a table 21 (Figure l) in the rear. The tube I3 is fixed on a carriage 28, which is movable in the direction of the arrow fl (Figure 1), and in the reverse direction by any suitable means, for example, by means of a pinion 29, fixed to a hand wheel 30. This pinion and wheel are keyed to an axis 3| which turns in the carriage 28, and the pinion engages with a toothed, rack 32 fixed along the table 21.

An auxiliary carriage 33 is provided, which is adjustable along the tube-carrying carriage 28. This carriage carries a stop 34, fixed to a piston rod 35. The piston 36 is located in the cylinder 31, into which a fluid under pressure can be admitted behind the piston. The admission of the fluid through a line of piping 38 is controlled by' a distributor 39, regulated for example by a pedal 40.

The working of the machine as a whole is as follows:

The blade I4 being fixed, the direction of the slide 7 is adjusted, and consequently that of the knife I4, according to the direction which it is desired to give the cut (straight or angled section) The tube I3 is then engaged in the steady I2, which is possible even in the case of an oblique cut by reason of the opening cut of the walls of the steady, it being possible for this angularity to reach as much as 30 to 45. The tube I3 bears at its end against the stop 34. The fluid under pressure has been admitted into the cylinder 37 behind the piston 36 fixed to this stop.

By means of the lever 20, fluid under pressure is then admitted into the cylinder I8. The knife I4 descends, and when it reaches the steady I2 its cutting edge cuts the tube, in a fashion which will be hereinafter analysed.

The cutting completed, the knife I4 is returned by means of the return spring I9, the return travel being controlled automatically by the stop 23, which acts on the lever 22 of the automatic stop and return unit, this unit opening the exhaust, as already described above, the piston I'I.

The removable stop 34 makes it possible to replace the tube cut with another, and thus to cut as many tubes as required to exact dimensions, the stop thus serving as a gauge.

The cutting operation properly so-called takes place in the following manner, in the case of a tube of rectangular section (Figure 3). The knife reaches the tube I3 with its point p at 12 near the vertical side of the tube ad, that is to say, at a point which can offer maximum resistance to the force of deformation of the tube, due'to the pressure of the knife, which operates in the manner of a punch. The knife then tears a small area on the surface of the tube, Without deforming it, for

the reasons stated, towards the inside of the said tube, then as soon as the point p has reached the inside of the tube, the oblique parts pq and qr shear the top of the tube from p to T forming small cuttings. However, when the knife reaches the position II (o p q r the point 72 starts to punch the lower face cd of the tube at 12 and then continues by a shearing action as in the case of the upper face. When the point r ofthe blade reaches the point r (position III of the blade) the two faces, upper ab and lower cd of the tubes are sheared. Owing to the vertical cut-in portions on and rs, the vertical faces be, do of the tubehave not been touched so far. After a new and L very slight displacement of the knife, the part st commences to engage with its edge the vertical side he of the tube at rlb, and it is only after this side has been sheared in its turn that the part mn of the cutting edge engages the second vertical side ad, thus completing the cutting action. The cuttings roll up at first, and. are then out into small chips by the longitudinal parts on and rs of the blade, these small chips disengaging themselves readily. The purpose of the clearance angle I5 provided in the blade is to produce an oblique curling of the cuttings so as to obtain an oblique spiral instead of a straight one, and thus facilitate the disengaging of the cuttings. On the other hand, there is no clearance angle on the cutting parts st and um, since in view of the small amount of space between the tube and the steady, the cuttings curl normally and move downwards, there being no jamming against the wall of the steady, which would be the case if a clearance angle were providedwhich would force,

the cuttings against the walls.

It is to be noted that during the entire operation, the tube I3 is held perfectly by reason of the angularity of the cutting parts of the blade l4, these parts developing a transverse force on the tube, owing to which action the tube is forced against the corresponding side of the steady I2.

Figure 6 relates to the case in which the tube l3 to be cut is of circular section as shown, or elliptical. This steady is, moreover, double coned. The cutting edge of the blade is symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of the blade and is formed by parts 1w, wm, my and 22 which are rectilinear or slightly curved and separated by the clearance parts ow and ya.

The operation of cutting is very similar to that described above except that it is symmetrical with respect to the vertical longitudinal axis of the knife 14' which slides in the groove '1' formed between plates 6 and l and has a cutting symmetrical edge I5.

Figures 7 and 8 show a similar alternative form, in which however the tool l4 has a straight section in the form of the arc of a circle extended by two longitudinal plane guide wings [4a. This tool 14 is fixed to a tool-holder 4| of circular section, located in a cylindrical guide 42 provided in the parts 6" and 9".

In each case, the machine which is easy to operate, makes it possible to obtain perfect cuts, the tubes are not deformed, and the sections produced are sharply out, clean and without burrs, making a de-burring operation unnecessary.

In addition, since the tool during the cutting operation is completely concealed in the slide I, 1' or i" the operator working the machine runs absolutely no risk of being hurt.

Of course, the invention is .not in any way limited to the constructional forms shown and described, which are only given by way of example.

As already indicated, the form of the tool may be other than one of those shown. This tool may have a U or V form, circular etc., and may be formed by one or more parts suitably juxtaposed and joined.

The machine can be utilised for the cutting of profiled parts other than tubes.

The direction of displacement of the tool may naturally be other than a vertical descending one;

it may be vertical and ascending, or again may have any direction whatsoever, horizontal or oblique. The tool may be driven electrically or by any other suitable means.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A machine for cutting metallic tubes of rectangular cross section comprising a stationary frame, means for carrying the tube on said frame, a steady adapted to the contour of said tube and carried by said stationary frame, a plane cutting blade mounted in said frame said blade having two oblique cutting edges which are unsymmetrical with relation to the longitudinal axis of said blade and ending in a same point in order to punch the tube to be out near one of its walls which are parallel to the direction of displacement of said blade, said unsymmetrical cutting edges of said blade comprising parts having different angularities separated by parts which are non-cutting and parallel to the direction of displacement of said blade, said parts being of such length that the blade first cuts the two faces of the tube perpendicular to the direction of displacement and then cuts the other two faces successively, a slot provided in said steady for the passage of said tool and means for giving an alternative motion to said tool.

JEAN LOUIS FRANQOIS VERNEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 21,353 Stone Feb. 13, 1940 438,793 Bayley Oct. 21, 1890 528,738 Pfouts Nov. 6, 1894 683,289 John Sept. 24, 1901 897,984 Kruger Sept. 8, 1908 1,161,705 Lloyd Nov. 23, 1915 1,428,355 Bradley Sept. 5, 1922 1,513,100 Frederick Oct. 28, 1924 1,874,296 Huntsberger Aug. 30, 1932 2,064,539 Hart Dec. 15, 1936 2,144,335 Jensen et al Jan. 17, 1939 2,198,599 Borzym Apr. 30, 1940 

